"To thank his God for sorrow..."

Psalm 118: 1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

I know we normally do contemplative poems for devotions on Friday, but we're gonna mix it up this week in honor of Thanksgiving. Here are the last two stanzas of a moderately lengthy Thanksgiving poem. To read the entire thing, go here.

Thanksgiving

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Full many a blessing wears the guise Of worry or of trouble;Far-seeing is the soul, and wise, Who knows the mask is double.But he who has the faith and strength To thank his God for sorrowHas found a joy without alloy To gladden every morrow.

We ought to make the moments notes Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;The hours and days a silent phrase Of music we are living.And so the theme should swell and grow As weeks and months pass o’er us,And rise sublime at this good time, A grand Thanksgiving chorus.